Lord Drayson: The Police Federation of England and Wales was established by the Police Act 1919, under which it has a statutory responsibility to represent its members in all matters affecting their welfare and efficiency. There is no similar basis under which members of the Armed Forces could form an association along these lines.
	There are however a number of alternative processes in place to ensure members of the Armed Forces can express their views on matters which affect their service or their welfare. There are regular surveys to monitor welfare matters, and it is an integral part of the duty of our chain of command to look after the welfare and well-being of their people. Individuals have the right to complain about any matter relating to their service to the Defence Council. Further modernisation of the complaints process is being proposed, including the introduction of an independent element as part of the Armed Forces Bill.

Aviation Fuel: Tax

Lord McKenzie of Luton: A discussion paper published jointly by HM Treasury and the Department for Transport in March 2003, entitled Aviation and the Environment: using economic instruments, considered the role of economic instruments and the environmental costs of aviation. This was also considered in Air Transport White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, published on 16 December 2003 and in chapter 5 of Aviation and Global Warming, published by the Department for Transport on 10 February 2004.
	The Air Transport White Paper set out the conclusions of the Government's analysis, including our view that aviation should be brought within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme by 2008, as the most. effective way of tackling the climate change impact. Along with other measures to tackle local environmental impacts, this will help to ensure that the air transport sector meets its environmental costs.
	Although it is possible to make a crude estimate of potential revenue gains from charging duty on aviation turbine fuel at road fuel rates, the Government do not accept such direct comparisons as valid as they assume no change in demand or the working practices of the aviation industry. The Government have not undertaken an analysis of the demand impacts of specific measures which are not legally possible, such as tax on fuel for international flights, but we are continuing to explore options for using economic instruments.

Aviation Fuel: Tax

Lord McKenzie of Luton: A discussion paper published jointly by HM Treasury and the Department for Transport in March 2003, entitled Aviation and the Environment: using economic instruments, considered the role of economic instruments and the environmental costs of aviation. This was also considered in Air Transport White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, published on 16 December 2003 and in chapter 5 of Aviation and Global Warming, published by the Department for Transport on 10 February 2004.
	The Air Transport White Paper set out the conclusions of the Government's analysis, including our view that aviation should be brought within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme by 2008, as the most effective way of tackling the climate change impact. Along with other measures to tackle local environmental impacts, this will help to ensure that the air transport sector meets its environmental costs.
	The Government have not undertaken an analysis of the demand impacts of specific measures which are not legally possible, such as tax on fuel for international flights, but we are continuing to explore options for using economic instruments.

Lord Warner: We do not currently screen men for prostate cancer as both screening and treatment techniques are not sufficiently well developed to allow for such screening. However the Government are committed to introducing a national screening programme for prostate cancer if and when screening and treatment techniques are sufficiently well developed. The National Screening Committee keeps this work under review.
	Research under way in both Europe and the United States of America looking at whether screening using the prostate specific antigen test would reduce the death rate from prostate cancer is being monitored closely. It is worth noting that prostate cancer is the only cancer with a Department of Health research target, and we are currently spending the promised £4.2 million a year. Much of this work is relevant to screening.

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to relocate civil service jobs either into or out of the Belfast area in the next three years; if so, which jobs; to which locations; and why.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government are committed to relocating 20,000 civil servants out of London and the south-east by 2010. Pre-Budget Report 2005 reported that over 6,300 posts have already been relocated. The Department of Trade and Industry has moved 13 Postwatch posts to Belfast and the Home Office has relocated two posts at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate National Asylum Support Service to Belfast. The Northern Ireland Office has moved 6.5 full-time equivalent posts to Northern Ireland.
	HM Treasury has not been informed of any confirmed plans to move further posts into or out of Belfast, but this is a matter for individual departments who are responsible for deciding on sites for relocation, taking into account both their business needs and local economic factors, as set out in central guidance.

NHS Management and Administration Costs

Palestinian Elections

Lord Davies of Oldham: Minimum compensation levels are laid down in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage, available from any station, any train operator, or online at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Passengers with single and return tickets are entitled to 20 per cent. of the fare paid for their journey, payable in travel vouchers, in the event of a delay over an hour. Individual train operators' compensation arrangements, many exceeding the minimum set out in the conditions of carriage, are contained in the relevant operator's passengers' charter, available from stations and. customer services, or online at the train operator's website. If an operator fails to adhere to the terms of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage, this may be a breach of its passenger licence and franchise agreement. If the operator does not adhere to the terms of its passengers' charter, this may be a breach of its franchise agreement.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Her Majesty's Government have no plans to update the Managing risks to the public: appraisal guidance which was published on 17 June 2005 following wide consultation.